LLOYD LOWNDES, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

after giving at least ten days' previous notice thereof, posted in
five or more public places in said town, at which said special
election the qualified voters of Mt. Airy shall determine by
ballot whether the bonds hereinbefore provided for shall be
issued or not; and at which said election there shall be written
or printed on the ballots of said voters the words " For issue
of bonds,".or "Against issue of bonds; " and if a majority of
the ballots cast shall contain the words " For issue of bonds,"
then this act shall become operative and binding, but if a
majority of said ballots shall contain the words " Against the
issue of bonds," then this act shall be void and of no effect;
and the judges of said municipal election, or a majority of them,
shall return to the Mayor of said town the number of ballots
cast "For issue of bonds," and "Against issue of bonds," respec-
tively, and the said Mayor shall announce the result thereof.

77

SEC. 5. And be it enacted, That this act shall take effect
from the date of its passage.
Approved March 23d, 1896.

CHAPTER 73.

AN ACT to amend Article twenty-seven of the Code of
Public General Laws, title "Crimes and Punishments," by
adding thereto an additional section to follow immediately
after section forty-seven, and to be numbered "forty-
seven A," under the sub-title "Desertion of Wife or Child."

Effective.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That Article twenty-seven of the Code of Public Gen-
eral Laws, title "Crimes and Punishments," be and the same is
hereby amended by adding thereto the following section, to
follow immediately after section forty-seven, and to be num-
bered "forty-seven A," under the sub-title "Desertion of Wife
or Child."

New section.

47 A. Any person who shall without just cause desert or wil-
fully neglect to provide for the support and maintenance of
his wife or minor child, shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
meanor, and, upon indictment and conviction in any court of
the State having criminal jurisdiction, shall be fined not more
than one hundred dollars or be imprisoned in the Maryland
House of Correction, not exceeding one year, or both, iu the
discretion of the court.

Desertion of
wife or child.